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The doll’s house had been kindly gifted to Carse of Gowrie Men’s Shed from a lady in Cupar and Shed members had been undertaking refurbishment recently. However Shed member Pat McCluskey, an out-patient at Roxburgh House, had mentioned to trustees that patients were looking for a project to undertake in the Autumn months.

Andrea Redpath, rehab assistant, at Roxburgh House was absolute delighted when the dolls house was delivered. She said, “ I thought that the doll’s house was simply for us to use as a template of sorts to build our own, but to be given the actual house and the furniture is amazing. Our patients are absolutely delighted and we have plans to fit carpets, curtains and more furniture”. She continued, “Once we have completed the project we’ll pass it on to the children’s ward at Ninewells Hospital to let the children enjoy it”.

Derek Keiller said, “ We are so happy to be in a position to support Roxburgh House especially when many children will be able to enjoy the completed doll’s house”.

Pictured from the left is Derek Keiller Chairman of Carse of Gowrie Men’s Shed, Andrea Redpath, Pat McCluskey and Shed Treasurer, Alistair Thomson.

From Dumfries in the south to the Huntly in the north, members of Scottish Men’s Sheds gathered at Swan House on Dundee’s Technology Park for their AGM this week.

Launched in November 2015, the Scottish Men’s Shed Association aids the growing number of Men’s Sheds throughout Scotland with support, information and guidance to organisations and individuals who are already Shed members, or seeking to develop a Men’s Shed within their area.

A comprehensive and interactive 45 page website provides social media and contains the latest information on how to create a constitution, how to apply for charitable status and much more. The site also has it’s own You Tube channel.

There are currently 67 Men’s Sheds already in operation in the country with 45 in various stages of development.

During the AGM the 1,000th member was signed up.

Talks were given in the morning session by Alistair McKinley, head of Community Empowerment & Public Bodies Policy, the Scottish Government; Elaine McGhee, Greenwood Insurances Charity specialist; and Dr. Danielle Kelly, Lead Researcher SSD Glasgow Caledonia University who is to be carrying out research on the movement over the next 3 years.

Derek Keiller, Chairman of the SMSA and also Carse of Gowrie Men’s Shed, gave a talk on achievements during 2017 and plans for 2018.

Carse of Gowrie Men’s Shed had a visit from Stuart Martin from Australia. Stuart is a former resident from Dundee and emigrated to Australia in the 1960s but regularly visits Dundee. Jake Reid, procurement officer for the Men’s Shed, is a childhood friend of Stuart. When they met recently Jake mentioned that he was a member of the local Men’s Shed and arranged a visit. Stuart was so impressed with the facilities that he wrote a cheque for 2,000 Australian dollars and presented it to the shed.

We have purchased and installed two new woodworking lathes in the wood turning section; this should help to accommodate more personnel who like to take part in this activity, we have one more lathe to be installed and this will be done asap.

Saints in the Community are proud to be the first football club in Scotland to host Andy’s Man Club. Founded by former Rugby League International Luke Ambler, following the suicide of his brother-in-law Andrew Roberts in 2016, the Club is for “any man who is going through a storm, been through a storm or just wants to come along and meet a good group of people with the aim of improving one another.”

The fact that Andy’s Man Club is setting up in Perth is very much down to the great efforts of Perth Prison officers Alex McClintock and Adam Allison who first contacted Luke and set up meetings with the Saints Community Trust.

Andy’s Man Club will meet for the first time on Monday 18th September at 7pm in the Muirton Suite at McDiarmid Park and thereafter every Monday at the same time.

Carse of Gowrie Men’s Shed had a visitor from afar recently when Stuart Martin from Australia dropped in to see them.

Stuart operates an electrical business in Queenbeyan, just outside Canberra in New South Wales. A former resident of Dundee, he emigrated to Australia in the 1960’s but has never forgotten his roots and returns regularly to the city.

Jake Reid, procurement officer for the Men’s Shed, is a childhood friend of Stuarts and when they met up recently Jake mentioned that he was a member of the local Men’s Shed.

Stuart is familiar with the Men’s Shed concept as they originated in Australia in the 1990’s as a means to cater for ex -Vietnam veterans, men with time on their hands or retired men who just needed company and a place to go.

On visiting the Shed Stuart was so impressed with the facilities they provide that he wrote a cheque out for $2,000 Australian dollars and presented it to the Shed.

Carse of Gowrie Men’s Shed are currently base at Swan House, Technology Park Dundee but are moving shortly to The Circle, Staffa Place, Dundee.

Pictured are Stuart Martin (right) receiving an honourary membership of the Shed and a 3D printed copy of the Law monument from Jake Reid.

When Peter Holland, a talented amateur woodworker, from Riverina Woodworker’s Club in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia contacted Derek Keiller last autumn to ask if he could use the facilities of the Carse of Gowrie Men’s Shed, Derek thought that’s a long commute. However, Peter explained that he would be visiting Dundee in April this year to visit his son Jonathon, who is a soil scientist at the Hutton Institute at Invergowrie and lives in Dundee. He had already made a beautiful nest of tables for his other three children and this was to complete his mission of making a set for each.

The cost of shipping a nest of tables from Australia was prohibitive so Peter came up with a cunning plan - he would flat pack the tables in his luggage and assemble them once he arrived in Dundee. Only trouble was that Peter did not have any facilities to enable him to complete the task. So Peter went on the internet and discovered Carse of Gowrie Men’s Shed who were delighted to assist.

Peter is shown in the picture with some members of Carse of Gowrie Men’s Shed, based at Swan House on Dundee’ technology park, with his completed nest of tables which were made from Western Red Cedar, a native Australian tree.

Further information from Derek Keiller at 07789 933 522 or 01382 562638